This country house in the Buckinghamshire countryside was home to Britain’s most brilliant mathematical brains and the scene of immense advances in technology—indeed, the birth of modern computing. The military codes deciphered there were instrumental in turning both the Battle of the Atlantic and the war in North Africa. McKay's book is the first history for the general reader of life at Bletchley Park, and an amazing compendium of memories from people who were once its habitants—of skating on the frozen lake in the grounds, of the high jinks at nearby accommodation hostels—and of the implacable secrecy that meant girlfriend and boyfriend working in adjacent huts knew nothing about each other’s work.
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Review
"A remarkably faithful account of what we did, why it mattered, and how it all felt at the time" —Guardian
"A truly breathtaking, eye-opening book" —Reader's Digest
"An eloquent tribute to a quite remarkable group of men and women" —Mail on Sunday
About the Author
Sinclair McKay writes for the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail. His other works include The Man With the Golden Touch: How the Bond Films Conquered the World and A Thing of Unspeakable Horror: The History of Hammer Films.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential History
Oct 24 2012
By L K Jay
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I love anything to do with code-breaking and Enigma and this book really fit the bill. The very fact that I'm typing this review on a computer is testament to the work and development that occurred at Bletchley Park in the war.
This isn't a book about the code-breaking itself but rather the social history of life at the park and the extraordinary work that went on behind the scenes of the Second World War I had no idea just how large the operation was, approximately 9000 people were working there when it was at its height. It was the little details that were most interesting, such as the billets they lived in and the different personalities of the men in charge. There was also a good deal of perspective from the many women who worked there, from the code-breakers to the WRENs who managed the bombes to the messenger girl.
It was very good at explaining the pressures the people were under, the difficult shifts they had to work and the mental stress this would cause. Lots of fascinating stories such as the romances and cultural side as well. It was also very interesting to read how the secret was kept for so long, which was a minor miracle in itself.
What I found most moving was the story of Alan Turing and his tragic end. What a waste, imagine what would have happened if he had lived to his natural age and the developments he could have created.
Fascinating stuff and if you are interested in the part of history, then a must buy.
This isn't a book about the code-breaking itself but rather the social history of life at the park and the extraordinary work that went on behind the scenes of the Second World War I had no idea just how large the operation was, approximately 9000 people were working there when it was at its height. It was the little details that were most interesting, such as the billets they lived in and the different personalities of the men in charge. There was also a good deal of perspective from the many women who worked there, from the code-breakers to the WRENs who managed the bombes to the messenger girl.
It was very good at explaining the pressures the people were under, the difficult shifts they had to work and the mental stress this would cause. Lots of fascinating stories such as the romances and cultural side as well. It was also very interesting to read how the secret was kept for so long, which was a minor miracle in itself.
What I found most moving was the story of Alan Turing and his tragic end. What a waste, imagine what would have happened if he had lived to his natural age and the developments he could have created.
Fascinating stuff and if you are interested in the part of history, then a must buy.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
For fans of behind the scenes history of Bletchley Park.
Mar 19 2012
By Ian Robert Carron
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having been fascinated with the work done at B.P. since reading 'The Code Breakers' quite some years back and then, on a visit to the UK, visiting Bletchley Park for a day and seeing the actual coding machines described, from the German Enigma's to Colossus, the 'father' of modern computers, this book was a must and it didn't let me down.
An enjoyable read from an historical and documentary point and anyone who is interested in this valuable part played in the history of WW II secret warfare will find it a great addition to their library.
An enjoyable read from an historical and documentary point and anyone who is interested in this valuable part played in the history of WW II secret warfare will find it a great addition to their library.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but a bit boring and over-long in parts
Nov 9 2012
By Luca turin
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Of course any scrap of information about Bletchley Park is welcome, and because of the Official Secrets Act it took a long time for anything at all to be known. This said, the "secret" of this Secret Life is that it was pretty much as usual for all those employed in non-combatant jobs in wartime: rations, boredom, romances, "making do" etc. Almost the same book could have been written about any other secret wartime outfit. The uniquely interesting stuff was the codebreaking itself, about which wonderful books like "Colossus" have been written. This one is only semi-interesting, and could have done with more editing, a process which seems to have gone out of style lately.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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